Low frequency stimulator provided in a mobile terminal and method for controlling the same

• US 20050267544A1
• Filed: 06/01/2005
• Published: 12/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Cho, Jin-Ho, Lee, Dong-Yul, Park, Hee-Joon
• Application Number:
  US11/141,020
• Publication Number:
  US 20050267544A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/46
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36021 for treatment of pain

Abstract

Disclosed is a low frequency stimulator provided in a mobile terminal, which comprises a high-voltage pulse generator for adjusting a voltage of the mobile terminal to a level suitable for low frequency stimulation; an output controller for outputting a voltage output from the high-voltage pulse generator in a unipolar or bipolar format and controlling the cycle of the output voltage; an electrode section for delivering a stimulation pulse according to the voltage output from the output controller; and a control section for controlling a first switching signal applied to the high-voltage pulse generator to adjust the level of the voltage and controlling a second switching signal applied to the output controller to output a unipolar or bipolar voltage of the controlled cycle.

Claims

1. A low frequency stimulator provided in a mobile terminal, which comprises:

a high-voltage pulse generator for adjusting a voltage of the mobile terminal to a level suitable for low frequency stimulation;

an output controller for outputting a voltage output from the high-voltage pulse generator in a unipolar or bipolar format and controlling the cycle of the output voltage;

an electrode section for delivering a stimulation pulse according to the voltage output from the output controller; and

a control section for controlling a first switching signal applied to the high-voltage pulse generator to adjust the level of the voltage and controlling a second switching signal applied to the output controller to output a unipolar or bipolar voltage of the controlled cycle.

2. The low frequency stimulator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said high-voltage pulse generator uses a boost circuit to output a voltage of a level suitable for low frequency stimulation.

3. The low frequency stimulator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said output controller uses an H-bridge circuit to output unipolar and bipolar voltages of a controlled cycle.

4. The low frequency stimulator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electrode section is formed on the mobile terminal.

5. The low frequency stimulator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electrode section is formed on a pad for low frequency stimulation which can be inserted into an ear jack of the mobile terminal.

6. The low frequency stimulator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said output controller determines whether the pad with the electrode section or an earphone is inserted into the ear jack of the mobile terminal based on a resistance value of a plug inserted into the ear jack.

7. The low frequency stimulator as claimed in claim 5, wherein said output controller determines whether the pad with the electrode section or an earphone is inserted into the ear jack of the mobile terminal based on a resistance value of a plug inserted into the ear jack.

8. A method for activating a low frequency stimulator provided in a mobile terminal, which comprises the steps of:

setting a low frequency stimulation pulse in a low frequency stimulation mode;

selecting an electrode section for outputting the set type of low frequency stimulation pulse;

when an electrode section formed on the mobile terminal is selected, outputting a voltage corresponding to the set type of stimulation pulse through the electrode section on the mobile terminal;

when a pad for low frequency stimulation is selected, determining whether the pad for low frequency stimulation is inserted into an ear jack of the mobile terminal; and

when the pad for low frequency stimulation is inserted into the ear jack, outputting a voltage corresponding to the set type of stimulation pulse through an electrode section formed on the pad for low frequency stimulation.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, further comprising the step of:

when said pad for low frequency stimulation is not inserted into the ear jack, generating an alert message or sound.

11. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein said step of setting a type of low frequency stimulation pulse comprises:

when a “

pulse pattern”

item is selected from a stimulation pulse menu, initiating a pulse pattern setting mode;

setting a desired pulse pattern in the pulse pattern setting mode;

when a pulse intensity item is selected from the stimulation pulse menu, initiating a pulse intensity setting mode;

when an upward direction key is pressed, increasing the current intensity level of stimulation pulse by one; and

when a downward direction key is pressed, reducing the current intensity level of stimulation pulse by one.

14. The method as claimed in claim 8, further comprising the step of:

when an incoming call is received in the low frequency stimulation mode, changing the mode to a call mode; and

when a telephone call in the call mode is finished, automatically converting into the low frequency stimulation mode.

10. A method for activating a low frequency stimulator provided in a mobile terminal, which comprises the steps of:

when a pad for low frequency stimulation is inserted into an ear jack of the mobile terminal, changing the current mode of the mobile terminal to a low frequency stimulation mode;

setting a type of low frequency stimulation pulse in the low frequency stimulation mode; and

outputting a voltage corresponding to the set type of stimulation pulse through an electrode section formed on the pad for low frequency stimulation.

12. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said step of setting a type of low frequency stimulation pulse includes:

when a pulse pattern item is selected from a stimulation pulse menu, initiating a pulse pattern setting mode;

setting a desired pulse pattern in the pulse pattern setting mode;

when a pulse intensity item is selected from the type of stimulation pulse menu, initiating a pulse intensity setting mode;

when an upward direction key is pressed, increasing the current intensity level of stimulation pulse by one; and

when a downward direction key is pressed, reducing the current intensity level of stimulation pulse by one.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein pulse patterns that can be set in the pulse pattern setting mode comprise first tapping, second tapping, pushing and kneading.

15. The method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising the step of:

when an incoming call is received in the low frequency stimulation mode, changing the mode to a call mode; and

when a telephone call in the call mode is finished, automatically converting into the low frequency stimulation mode.